Morning everybody, my son in law has just bought an 54 plate Sorrento without a tow bar, he only wants 1plug 7 pin. Over the years I have put a few bars on and done the electrics the old fashioned way by cutting in to the rear lights, now though you see spesific looms for individual cars, has anybody put electrics on a KIA Sorrento the old way , I'm tempted to have a go but with all the electrics on vehicles getting difficult and more hi tech I don't want to damage anything .....thanks for your help........when will the summer be here !!!
7 pin electrics on tow bar
- Thread starter Fatboy
- Start date
Hello Fatboy,
Knowing that many cars these days do have quite complex electrical systems, using not only 12V dc for power but also sending digital data superimposed on the dc lines, with load sensing to identify bulb failures etc, I would be very reluctant to interfere with the wiring to sensitive road legal systems.
Many modern vehicles include specialist sockets for connecting towing wiring, and in some cases it also requires a program change to ECU's to tell the system that trailer wiring is present.
The danger of a DIY job is it may not work and it may damage other systems which are likely to be even more expensive to put right.
Unless you can be absolutely sure your car does not use "Can Bus" or other digital systems, my recommendation is to leave it to someone with the right knowledge and equipment.
Knowing that many cars these days do have quite complex electrical systems, using not only 12V dc for power but also sending digital data superimposed on the dc lines, with load sensing to identify bulb failures etc, I would be very reluctant to interfere with the wiring to sensitive road legal systems.
Many modern vehicles include specialist sockets for connecting towing wiring, and in some cases it also requires a program change to ECU's to tell the system that trailer wiring is present.
The danger of a DIY job is it may not work and it may damage other systems which are likely to be even more expensive to put right.
Unless you can be absolutely sure your car does not use "Can Bus" or other digital systems, my recommendation is to leave it to someone with the right knowledge and equipment.
Why not investigate:
1) Does the Sorrento have a dedicated plug already in the wiring loom near the back to accept a "towing Module". Volvos have been fitted with such plugs since about 1995.
2) My 1992 Volvo 940 did not have such a plug but I used a "7 way bypass relay" . One side of this is connected to the existing vehicle wiring (as in the past ) but it only consumes a tiny current as this current is used to "switch on" the relevant relay in the bypass relay and hence does not interfere with the vehicle's systems. At least that is the theory. The other (output) side of the relay is connected to the usual 12N wiring. A permanently live main feed from the vehicle fuse box to the relay is required to supply the power to the relay and hence the 12N wiring and an earth from the relay to the vehicle chassis.
3) My daughter has a much more modern 2007 Volvo V50 for which she ordered a vehicle specific Witter tow bar and electrics and had them fitted by one of Witter's local fitting depots. The electrical items used were very similar to those I had used on my old Volvo and I could have done it for her but she wanted it to be done by professionals in case anything went wrong.
Sorry about the layout of this. Something seems to have gone wrong.
1) Does the Sorrento have a dedicated plug already in the wiring loom near the back to accept a "towing Module". Volvos have been fitted with such plugs since about 1995.
2) My 1992 Volvo 940 did not have such a plug but I used a "7 way bypass relay" . One side of this is connected to the existing vehicle wiring (as in the past ) but it only consumes a tiny current as this current is used to "switch on" the relevant relay in the bypass relay and hence does not interfere with the vehicle's systems. At least that is the theory. The other (output) side of the relay is connected to the usual 12N wiring. A permanently live main feed from the vehicle fuse box to the relay is required to supply the power to the relay and hence the 12N wiring and an earth from the relay to the vehicle chassis.
3) My daughter has a much more modern 2007 Volvo V50 for which she ordered a vehicle specific Witter tow bar and electrics and had them fitted by one of Witter's local fitting depots. The electrical items used were very similar to those I had used on my old Volvo and I could have done it for her but she wanted it to be done by professionals in case anything went wrong.
Sorry about the layout of this. Something seems to have gone wrong.
Ian - have tidied up the layout for you!
I would definitely recommend going for a plug-in kit if you are planning on doing the job yourself. A bypass relay is an option and also avoids cutting about any of the vehicle wiriing but the plug-in units are as simple as they sound. The kit costs around £50 but is completely pain free to install, especially when you have no requirement for a 12S socket.
Typical kit here...
http://www.pfjones.co.uk/sorento-7-pin-dedicated-wiring-kit-jan-2003-aug-2006-19100500rc-1.html
I would definitely recommend going for a plug-in kit if you are planning on doing the job yourself. A bypass relay is an option and also avoids cutting about any of the vehicle wiriing but the plug-in units are as simple as they sound. The kit costs around £50 but is completely pain free to install, especially when you have no requirement for a 12S socket.
Typical kit here...
http://www.pfjones.co.uk/sorento-7-pin-dedicated-wiring-kit-jan-2003-aug-2006-19100500rc-1.html
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